The feast is spread in the knightly hall, And the guests are uproarious, one and all, Drinking success to the hero stout Who larruped the Giants out-and-out; When, lo! all their mirth was changed to gloom, For a herald, all whey-faced, rushed into the room. Oh, the horrified wight! What a terrible sight! He spoke--five hundred jaws were still; Eyes, twice five hundred, staring wide-- "Mac Thundel's coming, bent to kill You, valiant champion--hide, sir, hide!" The cry of the crowd without they hear, "Mac Thundel is coming, oh dear! oh dear!" "And who the deuce is this Mac Thundel, That I," Sir Jack replied, "should bundle?" "Mac Thundel, Sir Knight, is a two-headed beggar, You have slain his two kinsmen, the Giants Mac Gregor: That he 'll kill you and eat you he swears, or 'de'il tak' him,'" "Ha, ha, ha!" laughed bold Jack, "let him come--I shall whack him." {045} "Gentles and ladies, pray walk below To the castle yard with me; You don't object to sport I know, And rare sport you shall see." "Success to gallant Jack!" they shout, And follow, straight, the champion stout. The knight's retainers he summons, all hands, And thus with hasty speech commands:- "Ho! merrymen, all, to the castle moat, Cut the drawbridge well nigh through; While I put on this elegant coat The knaves his bidding do. The form of the hero dissolves in air, And the ladies exclaim and the gentlemen stare. XV. [Illustration: 076] Stumping, thumping, blundering, lo! Comes the Giant Scot in sight; All the people screaming "Oh!" Fly before him in affright. Look, he snorts and sniffs, as though His nose had ken'd an unseen foe; And hearken what he thunders forth, In gutteral accent of the north! See Page Image==> {045} {046} XVI. "Indeed!" replied the Giant Killer; "Old fellow, you 're a monstrous miller!" Disclosing his form to Mac Thundel's sight, Who foamed at the mouth with fury outright. "Are ye the traitor loon," he cried, "By wham my twa bauld brithers died? Then 'a will tear thee wi' my fangs, And quaff thy bluid to quit thy wrangs!" "You must catch me first, old stupid ass!" Said Jack--he quoted Mrs. Glass; And he scampers away in his nimble shoes: Like a walking Ben Lomond, Mac Thundel pursues. In and out, Round about, Jack dodges the Giant apace, Round the castle wall, That the guests may all Enjoy the stirring chase.